Transportation
World's Longest High-Speed Rail Line Opens
The opening of the 1,200-mile Beijing to Guangzhou high-speed rail line marked the latest milestone in "one of the world’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects." The longest such segment in the world takes only 8 hours to traverse.
New York's MTA Seeks New Leader
Joseph Lhota, the chairman and chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has announced his resignation at the end of this year. Who will be next to lead the nation's largest public transportation system?
Midwestern Drought Threatens the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River handles $7 billion in trade as one of the world's largest navigable inland waterways. A Midwestern drought has brought the river to water levels so low that they threaten to shut down shipping, reports John Schwartz.
Trainjacking America's Finance Industry
Acela has improved connectivity along the Northeast Corridor, but is that actually a good thing? Aaron M. Renn argues that high-speed rail has actually hurt America by giving the finance industry a stranglehold over fiscal and monetary policies.
Proximity Trumps Mobility: Smart Growth Maximizes Accessibility
The increased proximity provided by more compact and centralized development is about ten times more influential than vehicle traffic speed on the number of destinations that people can reach within a given travel time.
How Smart Is Smart Parking - And For Whom?
Parking enforcers, not motorists in search of available parking, may be the main beneficiaries of 'smart parking' technology as they have the ability to immediately spot parking spaces where vehicles have overstayed their time limits and by how long.
Can Narrow Lanes Improve Traffic Congestion?
Comparing wide versus narrow lanes, Kenneth A. Small and Chen Feng Ng examine the relatively unexplored design of building more compact roads to alleviate traffic congestion.
Biometric Monitors: Coming to a Driveway Near You
Might your car one day serve as a mobile doctor's office? If research into biometric monitoring being conducted by carmakers comes to fruition, your car may soon be able to tracks your stress and blood sugar levels, and more, reports Bob Moon.
'Cycle to Work' Scheme Subsidizes Bikes for Brits
Sarah Goodyear reports on how Britain's 'Cycle to Work' scheme has decreased carbon dioxide emissions, and transformed the lives of individuals such as Toby Field.
Why is Little Being Done to Prevent Railroad Deaths?
An investigative series by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch exposes the obstacles to preventing pedestrian railroad accidents - now the leading cause of death on the rails. Authorities are unable to tackle the problem and railroads are unwilling.
Bicycling: Good for the Brain and the Body
The physical benefits of cycling are well known, but researchers are just beginning to understand how riding a bike benefits our brains, writes Simon Usborne.
Legendary Map Designer Disses Competition
At a recent talk at the New York City Transit Museum, Massimo Vignelli, designer of the iconic 1972 NYC subway map, discussed his opinions of the subway maps that preceded and followed his groundbreaking design.
L.A. Bike-Share to Launch in April
This week, Southern California-based Bike Nation, a new player in the bike sharing business that has pledged $16 million toward L.A.'s first bike-share network, announced that the system will launch in April, just a year after it was announced.
Light Rail Seen as Route to 'Big City' Status for Ottawa
By unanimous vote, Ottawa's city council approved the contract to build a $2.1 billion light rail system for the Canadian capital this week, reports David Reevely. The vote comes after the failure of a similarly bold rail plan approved six years ago.
2012: A Banner Year for L.A.'s Pedestrians
Will 2012 be remembered as the year people realized that everyone walks in L.A.? Alissa Walker reviews the 12 events from the past year that demonstrate a changing perspective towards the city's pedestrians.
Biking to Work is a Slam Dunk
Lance Armstrong may no longer be the first athlete Americans associate with bicycle riding; and that may be a good thing after the last year he's had. This week, NBA MVP LeBron James's bicycle commute became national news.
Tempe Better for Bikes Than Portland?
This week, the website Walk Score announced the results of its expanded Bike Score evaluation. With more than double the amount of cities than initially ranked, the usual favorites (Minneapolis, Portland), were joined by some surprises.
Marking an 'Exciting Day' for Detroit's Development
This week Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a series of bills passed during the State Legislature's recent lame-duck session that will have long-term impacts on the revival of Detroit and its suburbs, reports Kathleen Gray.
The Twin Cities's Worst Planning Mistakes
Tired of all those year end "Best of" lists? This should cleanse your palate. Marlys Harris has gathered a list of the nine worst decisions made by planners in the history of the Twin Cities.
Has L.A. Solved Its Most Important Transit Conundrum?
It's one of those news items that makes you ask: "Duh, what took you so long?" Los Angeles World Airports and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are finally working together to identify how to connect LAX with the city's transit system.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
